Review of the Givi T455 Scooter Tunnel Bag
Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 10:04PM 
I've put together a video to demonstrate the Givi T455 Scooter Tunnel Bag. My reasons for buying this were a bit unusual - the video explains this in more detail, but to give you a bit more of an understanding into my scooter inferiority complex, I'll elaborate a bit on the bike vs scooter issue.
If you ride a scooter and you live in the UK or the US you will have no doubt suffered from an anti-scooter prejudice that exists amongst many people (including 'proper' motorcycle riders). "Do you ride a motorcycle - what kind is it"? "Oh it's just a scooter - I suppose you are allowed to drive that on your car licence, are you saving up for a real motorbike?".
I have a full bike licence and chose my £5000 scooter over a traditional motorbike for many reasons (too numerous and complex to go into here). The outfit I wear when riding my scooter is indistinguishable from the clothes someone wearing a traditional motorbike would wear. This is often seen to be overkill - " but you're just riding a scooter - what's with the get up, in Spain they drive scooters wearing flip flops, shorts and a T-shirt". My scooter is 400cc scooter, it can go 90+ mph, I often ride it down the Motorway - if I fell off whilst cruising along at 60 mph the results would be the same as someone falling off a Harley (not good) . Therefore I wear a full face helmet, back protector, proper jacket pants and boots. Yet if you were to see someone wearing full leathers all in ones on a racing bike it would be considered normal - on a scooter, well......
Anyway enough ranting about scooters vs motorbikes. I like both, but find a scooter more convenient for my needs. The Givi T455 makes my scooter even more convenient as far as storage goes - but less convenient because it's one more thing to carry around when I get off the bike. It also might not appeal because of the permanent velcro pads that need to be attached to the bike and it's pretty expensive (at around £60).
The reason I made a video is so that people can see what it looks like in situ and how it fits on the bike - two things that I wasn't able to find enough information about about when I bought mine. I just realised that in the video that I might be pronouncing Givi incorrectly - by saying 'give -e' when it's probably more like 'jhivi' as in Givenchy, anyway tomayto tomarto, I don't suppose it really matters.
I know that this is something that only a handful of people are interested in - but that's fine by me - thanks for looking in, and if you don't care about scooters or scooter luggage then that's fine too - it's all good.
Reader Comments (8)
Thanks for a very informative video which answered all my questions about the T455. I am ordering one as I write!
Thanks - I know that something like this only has a very specialist niche audience so I'm glad that you found it useful.
Great Vid. I am looking for the 455 now for my SQ250 Daelim.
Thanks!
Great video. You are spot on about the stereotypes of biker-scooter and male-female bike frames. My uncool scooter costs as much as a harley, and gets none of the respect...[grr]
Highly informative video. Thanks for producing and sharing. Even the irony of the "man purse" isn't lost on me.
As an "old" motorcyclist, just arriving in the world of scooters, this was both interesting and useful. Loved the comments about the old Biker v Scooterist, I reckon the 60's and Quadrophenia have a lot to answer for...
Hi,
I am a motorcycle rider and am about to buy a 300cc scooter as a stablemate to my bikes (660cc and 1000cc). There are a lot of dopes out there with the wrong attitude. When you enjoy riding I do not think it matters what you ride - they are all good fun.
I wave to scooter riders as well as the motorcyclists - most scooter riders do not wave back (neither do most Harley Riders) I think that some scooter riders are shocked that a motobike rider has acknowledged them (not the norm).
Was thinking of buying a tunnel bag but had not seen one in the flesh. Your video is excellent and very informative - your Givi looks good.
Thanks, Stan.
@stanp. Apologies for the delay in responding. I feel exactly the same way as you. I got really fed up with the snobbery from various bikers. It's as if unless you had the exact same bike as them then you are somehow less worthy. I think that everyone who rides a bike, trike or scooter on the roads must enjoy the feeling and understand that they are all in a very small minority group. There is no need to subdivide this group into further sub-groups....they are all bikers.
I ride a 2009 Honda Silver Wing, and i know what you mean about the prejudice towards scooter vs. the "real bikes". But the funny thing is most of the prejudice has came from the "4-wheelers" meaning car riders. A Harley rider I met said that it doesn't matter what it's official name is, if it is on two wheels, it's a bike. I had the honor of riding in the parade of bikes, mostly Harleys, for a biker friend who had passed away. We escorted the funeral procession to the gravesite from the church. That was one of the highest moments I have had since I started riding. In my personal experience most bikers I meet on the rode wave as we pass each other and of course I wave back. If only car riders could learn the same respect I have received from other bikers.